Pivoting loading tray assembly for food product slicing apparatus and method of use

ABSTRACT

A food product slicing apparatus is configured to slice food products into slices. A load assembly pivotally is mounted on a frame and a food product is positioned thereon. A drive assembly on the frame receives the food product from the load assembly and moves the food product relative to the frame. The load assembly can be positioned in at a first, lowered position relative to the drive assembly, a second, partially raised position relative to the drive assembly and a third, fully raised position relative to the drive assembly. The drive assembly engages the food product when the load assembly is in the third, fully raised position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/271,459, filed on Oct. 25, 2021, the contents of which are incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to a pivoting loading tray apparatus for a food product slicing apparatus which is used to slice food products.

BACKGROUND

Food product slicing apparatuses have a pivotable lift tray which moves food product from a lowered position to a raised position for engagement with a drive assembly that moves the food product to a slicing assembly. In operation, the food product is received on the lift tray when in the lowered position, and then the lift tray is pivoted to engage the food product with the drive assembly. Once the food product moves off of the lift tray, the lift tray is pivoted to the lowered position for receiving the next food product. The food product slicing apparatus continuously moves between these two positions during operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the disclosed embodiments, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a rear perspective view of a food product slicing apparatus;

FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional view of the food product slicing apparatus with a loading tray assembly of a feed assembly of the food product slicing apparatus in a lowered position;

FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional view of the food product slicing apparatus with the loading tray assembly in a raised position;

FIG. 4 depicts a cross-sectional view of the food product slicing apparatus with the loading tray assembly in a partially raised position;

FIG. 5 depicts a front perspective view of drive assemblies of the feed assembly; and

FIG. 6 depicts a side elevation view of the drive assemblies of the feed assembly and a sensor system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the disclosure may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, a specific embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure, and is not intended to limit the disclosure to that as illustrated and described herein. Therefore, unless otherwise noted, features disclosed herein may be combined together to form additional combinations that were not otherwise shown for purposes of brevity. It will be further appreciated that in some embodiments, one or more elements illustrated by way of example in a drawing(s) may be eliminated and/or substituted with alternative elements within the scope of the disclosure.

Food product slicing apparatuses and methods associated with the same are included in the present disclosure. With reference to the figures, one example of a food product slicing apparatus 20 is shown. The food product slicing apparatus 20 is used to slice food products into slices. The food products may be comprised of a wide variety of edible materials including, but not limited to meat, such as pork bellies, beef, chicken, fish, etc., and cheese.

As generally shown in FIGS. 1-4 , the food product slicing apparatus 20 includes a main frame 22, a load assembly 24 mounted on the main frame 22, a feed assembly 26 mounted on the main frame 22 downstream of the load assembly 24, a slicing assembly 28 mounted on the main frame 22 downstream of the feed assembly 26, and an output assembly 30 mounted on the main frame 22 downstream of the slicing assembly 28. The food product slicing apparatus 20 further includes a control system 32 configured to control operation of the components of the food product slicing apparatus 20. The main frame 22 supports the load assembly 24, the feed assembly 26, the slicing assembly 28, and the output assembly 30 on a ground surface and includes various mechanisms and power systems for powering the food product slicing apparatus 20. The load assembly 24 and the feed assembly 26 are configured to support and handle the food products and to move the food products to the slicing assembly 28. The slicing assembly 28 is configured to slice the food products into individual slices. The sliced food product is supported on the output assembly 30, which may be a conveyor, in stacks or in shingles and moved away from the slicing assembly 28. The control system 32 includes all the necessary hardware and software to perform all of the operations and functions of the food product slicing apparatus 20. The control system 32 may be mounted on the main frame 22 or may be remote from the main frame 22.

In an embodiment, and as shown, the load assembly 24 includes a loading frame 40 on which a conveyor 44 is provided. Other load assemblies 24 may be provided.

The feed assembly 26 includes a loading tray assembly 104 mounted on the main frame 22 downstream of the load assembly 24, and a drive assembly 106 mounted on the main frame 22 downstream of the loading tray assembly 104. The loading tray assembly 104 moves food products from the load assembly 24 to the drive assembly 106, and the drive assembly 106 moves food products to the slicing assembly 28.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4 , the loading tray assembly 104 includes a longitudinally extending support frame 112 having a front end pivotally attached to the main frame 22 at a pivot 114, a conveyor 116 mounted on an upper side of the support frame 112, an actuator 118 for lifting or lowering the support frame 112 and the conveyor 116, and a product gate 120 having a curved profile. The actuator 118 may be pneumatic cylinder.

The conveyor 116 includes an endless belt wrapped around a plurality of wheels, with at least one of the wheels being a drive wheel or being driven by a separate drive wheel. A longitudinal axis is defined between an upstream end 116 a of the conveyor 116 and a downstream end 116 b of the conveyor 116. The endless belt defines a planar upper surface 122 upon which food products will translate.

The loading tray assembly 104 is pivotable between a first, lowered position, see FIG. 2 , in which the upstream end 116 a is aligned with the downstream end 44 b of the conveyor 44 of the load assembly 24, a second, partially raised position, see FIG. 4 , in which the conveyor 116 is above the downstream end 44 b of the conveyor 44, but is not aligned with the drive assembly 106, and a third, fully raised position, see FIG. 3 , in which the downstream end 116 b of the conveyor 116 is aligned with the drive assembly 106. In an embodiment, the second, partially raised position is such that the longitudinal axis of the conveyor 116 is at a 25 degree angle from horizontal. The product gate 120 is mounted on the main frame 22 at the downstream end 116 b of the conveyor 116. An upper end of the product gate 120 is below the drive assembly 106. When the loading tray assembly 104 is lifted, the downstream end 116 b of the conveyor 116 follows the curved profile of the product gate 120 which prevents the food product thereon from sliding forward off of the conveyor 116. When the loading tray assembly 104 is held in the second position, the downstream end of the food product engages with the product gate 120. In an embodiment, the conveyor 116 is driven to move the food product into engagement with the product gate 120 when the loading tray assembly 104 is in the second position so that the position of the food product is known when the loading tray assembly 104 is lifted to the third position.

An elongated bar 124 may be provided on the support frame 112 and extends over the upper surface 122 of the endless belt of the conveyor 116 from generally the upstream end 116 a to the downstream end 116 b thereof. The bar 124 is coupled to the support frame 112 by an adjustment mechanism which is configured to move the bar 124 across a portion of the upper surface 122 of the endless belt of the conveyor 116. The bar 124 is always parallel to the longitudinal axis of the endless belt of the conveyor 116. The side of the food product is engaged with the bar 124 to properly align the food product on the conveyor 116.

The drive assembly 106 includes a drive frame plate 126 fixedly coupled to, and cantilevered from, the main frame 22, an upper drive assembly 130 cantilevered from the drive frame plate 126, a lower drive assembly 132 cantilevered from the drive frame plate 126, and a motor assembly 134 coupled to the drive frame plate 126 and to the upper and lower drive assemblies 130, 132. The drive frame plate 126 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the food product slicing apparatus 20. The upper drive assembly 130 includes an upstream conveyor 140 mounted on an upstream shaft 138, and a downstream conveyor 144 mounted on a downstream shaft 142. The conveyors 140, 144 may include endless belts wrapped around a plurality of shaft mounted wheels. The endless belts defines a planar surfaces upon which food products will translate. The downstream end of the upstream conveyor 140 is proximate to, but spaced from, the upstream end of the downstream conveyor 144 such that an upper gap 240, see FIG. 6 , is formed therebetween. The lower drive assembly 132 includes an upstream conveyor 156 mounted on an upstream shaft 154, and a downstream conveyor 160 mounted on a downstream shaft 158. The conveyors 156, 160 may include endless belts wrapped around a plurality of shaft mounted wheels. The endless belts defines a planar surfaces upon which food products will translate. The downstream end of the upstream conveyor 156 is proximate to, but spaced from, the upstream end of the downstream conveyor 160 such that a lower gap 242, see FIG. 6 , is formed therebetween.

The upstream conveyor 140 is partially positioned over the upstream conveyor 156 and the downstream ends of the conveyor assemblies 140, 156 generally align. The upstream end of the upstream conveyor 140 is upstream of the upstream end of the upstream conveyor 156. The downstream conveyor 144 is positioned over the downstream conveyor 160 and the upstream ends and the downstream ends of the downstream conveyors 144, 160 generally align. The upper gap 240 is generally vertically above the lower gap 242 as shown in FIG. 6 .

When the loading tray assembly 104 is moved to the third position, as described herein, the downstream end 116 b of the conveyor 116 is underneath the upstream conveyor 140 and proximate to the upstream end of the upstream conveyor 156.

The motor assembly 134 includes a motor 246 which is coupled to the shafts 138, 142, 154, 158 to drive the conveyors 140, 144, 156, 160. A single motor 246 may be provided to drive all of the conveyors 140, 144, 156, 160 at the same speed. If only a single motor 246 is used, the cost and complexity of the food product slicing apparatus 20 is reduced.

As shown in FIG. 6 , an embodiment of the sensor system 110 includes an upper sensor 332 that is mounted on the main frame 22 above the upper drive assembly 130, and a lower sensor 334 that is mounted on the main frame 22 below the lower drive assembly 132. The upper sensor 332 has a field of view 336 that aligns with, and spans, the upper gap 240, and the lower sensor 334 has a field of view 338 that aligns with, and spans, the lower gap 242. The sensors 332, 334 detect the food product and conveys this information to the control system 32. The sensors 332, 334 may be one or more of one of an optical sensor, a laser, a camera, and an x-ray. Alternatively, the sensor system 110 includes one or more sensors in communication with the control system 32 provided on the main frame 22 to sense the food product in the gaps 240, 242 and to sense the end of the food product being moved off of the loading tray assembly 104.

In use, food product is loaded on the conveyor 44 of the load assembly 24 and the loading tray assembly 104 positioned in the first, lowered position as shown in FIG. 2 . The conveyor 44 is activated to move the food product through the opening 34 and onto the conveyor 116. When in the lower position, the conveyor 116 may be driven to move the food product into contact with the product gate 120. Thereafter, the loading tray assembly 104 is moved to the third, fully raised position as shown in FIG. 3 . Alternatively, once the next food product is fully loaded onto the conveyor 116, the loading tray assembly 104 is moved to the second, partially raised position as shown in FIG. 4 , and the conveyor 116 is driven to move the food product into contact with the product gate 120. The conveyor 116 may function as a tray when it is not driven, and the food product slides along conveyor 116 until the food product engages with the product gate 120 as the loading tray assembly 104 is pivoted to the third, raised position. The product gate 120 acts as a datum. The upper surface of the food product engages with the upstream conveyor 140. The upstream conveyor 140 and the conveyor 116 are activated to move the food product downstream. The food product moves off of the conveyor 116 and onto the upstream conveyor 156, while still being engaged by the upstream conveyor 140. The food product is transported between the upstream conveyors 140, 156 to the gaps 240, 242.

Once the front end of the food product is sensed by the sensor system 110, the loading tray assembly 104 is returned to the first, lowered position shown in FIG. 2 and the next food product is loaded onto the conveyor 116. Once the next food product is fully loaded onto the conveyor 116, the conveyor 116 may be driven to move the food product into contact with the product gate 120. The loading tray assembly 104 is then moved to the second, partially raised position as shown in FIG. 4 . Alternatively, once the next food product is fully loaded onto the conveyor 116, the loading tray assembly 104 is moved to the second, partially raised position as shown in FIG. 4 , and the conveyor 116 is driven to move the food product into contact with the product gate 120. The conveyor 116 may function as a tray when it is not driven, and the food product slides along conveyor 116 until the food product engages with the product gate 120 when the loading tray assembly 104 is pivoted to the second, partially raised position.

The first food product is sensed by the sensor system 110 as it passes through the gaps 240, 242. After the food product passes through the gaps 240, 242, the food product enters passes between the downstream conveyors 144, 160. The food product then passes through the slicing assembly 28 to cut the food product into individual slices. The individual slices fall onto the output assembly 30 for packaging.

After the food product passes through the gaps 240, 242, the loading tray assembly 104 moves from the second, partially raised position shown in FIG. 4 to the third, fully raised position shown in FIG. 3 so that the upper surface of the next food product engages with the upstream conveyor 140. The process then repeats itself over and over. By positioning the loading tray assembly 104 in the second, partially raised position shown in FIG. 4 , the food product slicing apparatus 20 is able to process the food product in a faster manner.

An elongated bar 124 may be provided on the support frame 112 and extends over the upper surface 122 of the endless belt of the conveyor 116 from generally the upstream end to the downstream end thereof. The bar 124 is coupled to the support frame 112 by an adjustment mechanism which is configured to move the bar 124 across a portion of the upper surface 122 of the endless belt of the conveyor 116. The bar 124 is always parallel to the longitudinal axis of the endless belt of the conveyor 116. The side of the food product is engaged with the bar 124 to properly align the food product on the conveyor 116.

One or more sensors in communication with the control system 32 be provided on the main frame 22 to sense the positions of the loading tray assembly 104 in the positions shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 .

While a particular embodiment is illustrated in and described with respect to the drawings, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the scope of the disclosure and the appended claims is not limited to the specific embodiment illustrated in and discussed with respect to the drawings and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure and appended drawings. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe example embodiments in the context of certain example combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure and the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A food product slicing apparatus for slicing a food product into slices comprising: a frame; a load assembly pivotally mounted on the frame; a drive assembly on the frame and configured to receive the food product from the load assembly and to move the food product relative to the frame, wherein the load assembly is positionable in a first, lowered position relative to the drive assembly and is configured to receive the food product thereon, a second, partially raised position relative to the drive assembly, and a third, fully raised position relative to the drive assembly, wherein the drive assembly is configured to engage the food product when the load assembly is in the third, fully raised position; and a slicing assembly on the frame downstream of the drive assembly, the slicing assembly being configured to slice the food product into slices.
 2. The food product slicing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive assembly includes an upper drive assembly and a lower drive assembly, wherein the upper drive assembly partially overlaps the load assembly when the drive assembly in the third, fully raised position.
 3. The food product slicing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the load assembly is a conveyor.
 4. The food product slicing apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a product gate having a curved profile, the product gate is mounted on the frame at a downstream end of the load assembly, wherein when the load assembly follows the curved profile of the product gate during movement.
 5. The food product slicing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the load assembly is a conveyor.
 6. The food product slicing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the upper drive assembly includes an upstream conveyor and a downstream conveyor separated by an upper gap, and the lower drive assembly includes an upstream conveyor and a downstream conveyor separated by a lower gap, and further comprising a sensor positioned within the gaps to sense the food product passing through the gaps.
 7. The food product slicing apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a sensor positioned on the frame to sense a position of the food product as the food product moves through the drive assembly.
 8. The food product slicing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive assembly includes an upper drive assembly and a lower drive assembly, wherein each drive assembly is at least one conveyor.
 9. The food product slicing apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a sensor positioned on the frame to sense a position of the food product as the food product moves through the drive assembly.
 10. The food product slicing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a product gate having a curved profile, the product gate mounted on the frame at a downstream end of the load assembly, wherein when the load assembly follows the curved profile of the product gate during movement.
 11. The food product slicing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the load assembly comprises a conveyor, and an actuator for raising and lowering the conveyor.
 12. A method of operating a food product slicing apparatus for slicing a food product into slices, comprising: positioning a load assembly on a frame in a first, lowered position relative to a drive assembly on the frame, wherein the load assembly is configured to receive a food product thereon in the first, lowered position; pivoting the load assembly to a second, partially raised position relative to the drive assembly; thereafter pivoting the load assembly to a third, fully raised position relative to the drive assembly such that the load assembly is proximate to the drive assembly, wherein the drive assembly is configured to engage the food product when the load assembly is in the third, fully raised position; activating the load assembly and the drive assembly to cause the food product to move toward a slicing assembly; and slicing the food product into slices with the slicing assembly.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising activating the load assembly to cause the food product to move toward a product gate when the load assembly is in the second, partially raised position.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising sensing a position of the food product as the food product passes through the drive assembly; and pivoting the load assembly to the first, lowered position when an end of the food product is sensed.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of: a) pivoting the load assembly to the second, partially raised position after a second food product is on the load assembly; b) thereafter pivoting the load assembly to the third, fully raised position, wherein the drive assembly is configured to engage the second food product; c) activating the load assembly and the drive assembly to cause the second food product to move toward the slicing assembly; and d) slicing the food product into slices with the slicing assembly.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising repeating steps a) through d) for third and subsequent food products.
 17. The method of claim 12, further comprising sensing a position of the food product as the food product passes through the drive assembly; and pivoting the load assembly to the first, lowered position when an end of the food product is sensed.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of: a) pivoting the load assembly to the second, partially raised position after a second food product is on the load assembly; b) thereafter pivoting the load assembly to the third, fully raised position, wherein the drive assembly is configured to engage the second food product; c) activating the load assembly and the drive assembly to cause the second food product to move toward the slicing assembly; and d) slicing the food product into slices with the slicing assembly.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising repeating steps a) through d) for third and subsequent food products. 